Allan Donald highlighted the batting challenge in South Africa due to the ball’s movement, praising Tendulkar’s exceptional technique of using a trigger movement while batting there.
In the ongoing Test series against South Africa, the Indian team faced a disappointing innings defeat in the first match due to their batting struggles. Apart from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, most Indian batsmen faltered, failing to make significant contributions.
Allan Donald, a former South African cricketer, highlighted overseas batters’ challenges while playing in South Africa. He emphasized the difficulty of coping with the ball’s movement, stating that Tendulkar was the only batsman he knew who could adeptly handle such conditions.
“It’s not an easy place to combat. We see that every day in South Africa, the ball does nip around more than it does in Australia or England. If your footwork isn’t 100 percent, then you are in trouble,” Allan Donald was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.
“Only person I know who played us well was Tendulkar, who triggered (had a trigger movement) while batting in South Africa rather than stand on middle stump. He pressed forward and left the ball amazingly well,” he added.
Donald also shared insights on scoring runs in South Africa, emphasizing the importance of judging which balls to leave to enhance batting success. He highlighted the strategy of making bowlers come to the batter, creating more scoring chances. Describing batting in South Africa as challenging yet rewarding, he mentioned that in Cape Town, the upcoming pitch for the second Test would initially assist bowlers but flatten out rapidly, requiring batters to put in considerable effort to succeed.
Last Updated on January 1, 2024
Senior Sports Copywriter
